Objective:
Household Labour Force Survey being implemented regularly since 1988 by Turkish Statistical Institute, is the main data source which provides information about those employed; economic activity, occupation, employment status and working hours, while the unemployed; search for your job search time and is being implemented in order to compile information about their work in our country with the supply side of the labor market.
Concepts:
Non-institutional population: Comprises all the population excluding the residents of dormitories of universities, orphanage, rest homes for elderly persons, special hospitals, prisons and military barracks etc.
Non-institutional working age population: Indicates the population 15 years old and over within the non-institutional civilian population.
Labour force: Comprises all employed persons and all unemployed.
Labour force participation rate: Indicates the ratio of the labour force to non-institutional working age population.
Employment: Comprises all the non-institutional working age population who are included in the persons “at work” and “not at work” described below.
·  Persons at work: Persons economically active during the reference period for at least one    hour as a regular employee, casual employee, employer, self employed or unpaid family  worker.
· Persons not at work: Regular employee, casual employee, employer, self employed or unpaid family who have a job but away from job during the entire reference week for various reasons are considered as employed, if there is a tie with job according to the absence reason from job.
Persons who are not at work during the reference week due to official holidays or annual leave, sick leave, working hour arrangements, job related training or legal maternity/paternity leave are employed without the need for additional criteria.
Persons who are not at work to raise a child (parental leave, unpaid leave for childcare) are considered as employed only if they have an assurance of return to work within a period of less than 3 months or less and/or they continue to receive job related wage/salary during their absence.
Persons who are not at work because of off-season/low season are considered as employed only if they performing any task or duty during the off-season period.
Persons who are not at work due to the other reasons such as bad weather, there was no work, slowing down or stopping of work for technical or economic reasons, participating a training unrelated to job are considered as employed only if they have an assurance of return to work within a period of 3 months or less.
The members of producer cooperatives and apprentices or trainees who are working to gain any kind of benefit (income in cash or in kind, social security, traveling cost, pocket money etc.) are considered to be employed.

Underemployment: In the Sixteenth International Conference of Labour Statisticians, organized by ILO, the existing definition of underemployment was revised considering the measuring problems and new concepts called as “time-related underemployment” and “inadequate employment” were introduced in order to measure underemployment more accurately. Therefore, essential arrangements have been made in household labour force survey questionnaire in 2009. Results on “time-related underemployment” and “inadequate employment” are published starting from February 2009 period instead of “underemployment” concept that had been calculated and published until that time.
Time-related underemployment: Persons employed in the reference week who actually worked less than 40 hours as total (in main job and additional job/s )were willing to work additional hours and were available to do so.
Inadequate employment: In case persons are not covered in the “time-related underemployment” concept; persons employed in the reference week but were also looking for a job to replace present job or as an additional job within last 4 weeks and were available to start work within 2 weeks if they could find another job.
Unregistered Employment: Persons who are not registered to any social security institution due to main job worked in reference week.
Persons unemployed: The unemployed comprises all persons 15 years of age and over who were not employed during the reference period had used at least one active channel for seeking a job during the last four weeks and were available to start work within two weeks.
Active job search channels are:

• Contacted employers directly      
• Asked friends, relatives, etc. to find a job
• Applied  Turkish Employment Office (İŞKUR) to find a job        
• Applied or contacted private employment offices / human resources offices
• Searched for a suitable job for newspapers, magazines, the internet or posted ads
• Post or answer a job advertisement in the newspaper
• Submitted or updated resume for job application online
• Take an oral or written exam/interview to find a job
• Made any preparations to start your own business 

Persons who have already found a job and will start to work within 3 months, or established his/her own job but were waiting to complete necessary documents to start work were also considered to be unemployed.
 
Unemployment rate: Is the ratio of unemployed persons to the labour force.

Supplementary indicators for labour force
In the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, held by ILO, alternative indicators have needed for a number of reasons such as the current unemployment rate being insufficient solitary to measure the labour market. In addition to basic labour force indicators, has been defined supplementary labour force indicators which are "time-related underemployment", "potential labour force", "unemployment". In the LFS questionnaire, the necessary arrangements were made in 2021 accordingly. The unemployment rate (LU1), combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (LU2), combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (LU3) and composite measure of labour underutilization (LU4) released in January 2021 results.
 
Potential labour force: Referring to persons not in employment who express an interest in this form of work but for whom existing conditions limit their active job search and/or their availability.

Rates for supplementary labour force indicators:

• Unemployment rate= [persons in unemployment/labour force] * 100 
• Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment=[(Persons in time-related underemployment + persons in unemployment) / labour force] * 100
• Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force=[(Persons in unemployment+potential labour force)/(labour force+ potential labour force)] * 100
• Composite measure of labour underutilization=[(Persons in time-related underemployment+persons in unemployment+potential labour force)/(labour force+ potential labour force)] * 100

Persons not in labour force: They include 15 years old and over non-institutional working age population who are neither unemployed nor employed. The persons not in labour force consist of the following sub-groups:
[1] Not seeking a job but available to start a job: These are the persons who did not look for a job with different reasons, but were available for work within 2 weeks. This group consists of two sub-groups:
           1.1. Discouraged workers: These are the persons not seeking a job because they had                looked for before or did not believe to find a job with his/her qualifications but they were                ready to start to work.
           1.2. Other: These were the persons who were not seeking a job for reasons such as                  being  seasonal workers, busy with household chores, student, property income   earner,            retired or disabled, but available to start to work. 
 [2]  Seasonal workers: Persons were not seeking a job and were not available for work                    because of being seasonal workers.

 [3]  Household chores: Persons not seeking a job and were not available for work because               of doing household chores.

 [4] In education or training: Persons not seeking a job and were not available for work                   because of attending regular school or training.

 [5] Retired persons: Persons not seeking a job and were not available for work because of             being retired.

 [6] Disabled, old or ill: Persons not seeking a job and were not available for work because             of being disabled, ill or elderly.

 [7]  Other: Persons not seeking a job and were not available for work because of family and               personal reasons or other reasons.
Classifications:
In the survey, both those in employment and the persons who were previously employed are classified by their economic activity, occupation, employment status and educational level.
Economic activities: All economic activities (until 2009) are coded at four digit level according to the International Standard of Economic Activities in the European Union (NACE Rev.1). Results are published by 9 or 14 main group given for Turkey, urban and rural and by 4 main sectors for regional breakdown. Tables given in TurkStat web page under the “Statistical Tables and Dynamic Search” title are given by the 9 groups, but in the data base and annual publication results are also given in 14 groups detail from 2004. In year 2009, economic activities in labour force survey were coded by International Classification of Economic Activities in the European Union (NACE) both by Revision 1 and by Revision 2. From 2010, the use of the Revision 2 was entirely adopted. Starting from the period of January 2010, economic activities have been published by NACE Revision 2 and in order to provide comparability with the same period of previous year, the results of 2009 have also been published by Revision 2. Occupation: All occupations were coded at the four-digit level according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO, 88) and the results were given by 9 main group until 2012. All occupations were coded together by using ISCO 88 and ISCO 08 in 2012, while ISCO 08 from 2013 was put into use. Starting from January 2013, according to the classification of occupations ISCO 08 began to be published. To ensure comparability with the same period of the previous year terms in 2012, according to the results of ISCO 08 have also been released. 9     Elemantary occupations
Employment status: All persons who are currently employed and persons employed in the past are classified according to International Classification on Status in Employment (ICSE, 1993) and the results are published by this classification. Educational status: The educational attainment level for all persons 6 years old and over is coded according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED, 1997).
1.     Illiterate

1. Literate withour any diploma
2. Primary school
3. Primary education
4. Secondary school or vocational secondary school

3.     High school and vocational school at high school level

• High school
• Vocational school at high school level

4.     Higher education

• Higher education
• University
• Master or doctorate

International and regional directive: Household labour force survey, where international standards have been followed in terms of definitions and concepts from the beginning of its first application, norms and standards of the European Union Statistical Office (Eurostat) and International Labour Organization (ILO) are being used.

 

 

Method of Sampling: For Household Labour Force Survey, two-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used. Based on adress, a rotation pattern is formed to ensure a 50% of overlap between two consecutive periods and in the same periods of the two consecutive years and 8 sub samples have been used at each period. In design of the study,  sample size has been equally distributed to the weeks,  which will be applied in each term. In determining sample volume size Eurostat regulation numbered 577/98 is based on. In design of the study, administrative division of the year 2014 is based on. The estimate size of the study is periodically the whole Turkey, annualy is the NUTS Level 2.  

Weighing: Weighting is a method used to obtain parameters from the data set resulting from sampling so as to represent the universe. In the study,  while reaching the final weight, the design weights have been calculated depending on the selection criteria; have been controlled for external distribution and corrected for non-responses. In weightning, age group, gender, NUTS Level 2, urban-rural and household size are based on as external control.

Data sources: Data were collected from the households which were selected by defined sampling method. Statistical unit used is “household” in labour force surveys. Demographic information (age, sex, educational status, relationship to household head) is asked to all members of the household. But, questions on labour force status are asked for persons 15 years old and over.

 

Data collection method: Before 2020 for the purpose of data collection Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) mode had been carried out.  In 2020 and beyond a mixed data collection method in which both Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) and Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) modes are used together is applied.

·

The Revision Information Form regarding the revisions to be carried out in the current year for the statistics produced in the scope of this press release can be accessed from the link below.

https://www.tuik.gov.tr/indir/revizyon/2021_RBF_EN_HIA.pdf

https://www.tuik.gov.tr/indir/metodolojikDokumanlar/hia_metod_en.pdf

 

Seasonal adjustment: Seasonal effects prevent observing the general tendency of data because of their temporary characteristics. Therefore, identification of seasonal patterns of short term indicators plays crucial role in order to make reliable comparisons between consecutive periods 

Method Used: The seasonal adjustment of Labour Force Statistics is carried out using TRAMO-SEATS methodology. The software that is used for the application of this method is JDemetra+ 2.2.2 developed by the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) in cooperation with the Deutsche Bundesbank and Eurostat in accordance with the Guidelines of the European Statistical System.

Seasonal Adjustment Process: The seasonal adjustment process of Labour Force Statistics begins at the end of each year with the identification of the models of next year.  This specified model structure is kept fixed throughout the year to adjust seasonally and/or calendar effects. At the end of the year, just like the previous year, specification of econometric estimation models for the following year is done. The identified process repeats itself in a cyclical manner each year.
Most of series series of Labour Force Statistics are seasonally adjusted. As the calendar related effects are not statistically significant, labour force statistics are published as only seasonally adjusted.  
Direct or iIndirect Approach: Seasonally adjusted figures of labour force statistics have been produced by indirect approach. Namely, number of employed and unemployed by economic activities are seasonally adjusted and then used to derive seasonally adjusted total labour force, employment and unemployment rates.

Revision Policy: Seasonal adjustment procedure is subject to revisions over time because of the re-estimation of seasonal component as new observations are added. These revisions  are implemented on the data of the last three years excluding the current year.

Publication:

Adjusted data is published in 2 different ways.

• “Seasonally adjusted” data is derived from unadjusted data by removing effects originating from seasonal effects. Seasonally adjusted data should be used in comparisons regarding the previous month/period.
• If unadjusted data contains both calendar and holiday, and seasonal effects, “seasonally and calendar adjusted” data is derived by removing these effects. Seasonally and calendar adjusted data should be used in comparisons regarding the previous month/period.

Household Labour Force Statistics Instutional Quality Report 2012
Household Labour Force Statistics Instutional Quality Report 2013
Household Labour Force Statistics Instutional Quality Report 2014
Household Labour Force Statistics Instutional Quality Report 2015
Household Labour Force Statistics Instutional Quality Report 2016
Household Labour Force Statistics Instutional Quality Report 2017
Household Labour Force Statistics Instutional Quality Report 2018
Household Labour Force Statistics Instutional Quality Report 2019

Data availability: Survey has been applied since 1988. Between 1988-1999 term the survey was applied twice a year using the last weeks of April and October as reference week. Since 2000 it has been applied on monthly basis.
The results of the survey were announced on quarterly basis between 2000-2003 periods. Starting with January 2005, Household Labour Force Survey results are announced in every month based on the moving averages of three months. The weighting coefficients are calculated based on the mid-month population projections and results are called with the name of the middle month in order to simplify expression. In this context, the disclosed press releases of February, May, August and November are completely comparable with the  results published periodically since 2000.

With the continuous survey application, the 13 weeks covered along with the corresponding month in each period are considered.
Geographical detail: Results of the survey were published by Turkey, urban and rural between 1988-1999 terms. The estimations have been given again for Turkey, urban and rural areas on quarterly basis and annually for seven geographical regions and selected nine province centers (Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Erzurum, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Samsun) besides the Turkey, urban and rural between 2000-2003. The quarterly results of the survey are provided for Turkey, urban and rural level as in previous applications and annual results are supplied for Classification of Region Units Level 1 (in urban/rural distinction) and for whole by Level 2 since 2004.
Timeliness: The results of the survey are announced in the 40th day following the end of the related term (3 month periods) in the 10th day of each month (in case of the 10th falls on a weekend the following working day) at 10.00 o'clock with a press release and at the same time disseminated through the web site both in Turkish and in English.

Online or database: Household labour force survey database includes time series data since 1988. The tables related to “1988 and January 2014 period” and “February 2014 and later” are in TurkStat web page under the “Statistical Tables and Dynamic Search” in sub section “Dynamic Search”.